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A European Union official said a deal has been reached under which Greece's debt would be reduced to 124 percent of GDP by 2020. The original goal had been 120 percent of GDP. The agreement would pave the way for indebted Greece to receive the next installment of its much-needed bailout loans.

ACTIVISTS: REBELS SEIZE MAJOR DAM

Syrian rebels on Monday captured a hydroelectric dam on the Euphrates River after days of clashes, carting off boxes of ammunition from defeated regime forces in the latest in a string of recent strategic advances for opposition fighters, activists said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Tishrin Dam, near the town of Manbij, supplies several areas of Syria with electricity.

WAL-MART DISTANCES ITSELF FROM FIRE

The garment factory in Bangladesh where a weekend fire killed at least 112 people had been making clothes for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. without the giant U.S. retailer's knowledge, Wal-Mart said Monday. In a statement, Wal-Mart said a supplier subcontracted work to the Tazreen Fashions Ltd. factory “in direct violation of our policies.”

Court Finds Mayor Violated Rules

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who sparred with his fellow city council members on everything from subways to the annual gay pride parade, must vacate his job in 14 days after being found in conflict of interest, a court ruled. Ford, who has served as mayor for two years, voted on a council motion that ordered him to repay donations made to his football fund. Ford said he would “absolutely” appeal and run in a by-election if necessary. “I'm going to fight it tooth and nail,” he said. “This comes down to left-wing politics. The left wants me out.”

BEAUTY QUEEN KILLED IN MEXICO SHOOTOUT

A 20-year-old state beauty queen was killed during a gunbattle between soldiers and the gang of drug traffickers she was traveling with in northern Mexico, the chief prosecutor of the state of Sinaloa said. The body of Maria Susana Flores Gamez was found lying near an assault rifle on a rural road. “She was with the gang of criminals, but we cannot say whether she participated in the shootout,” state prosecutor Marco Antonio Higuera said.

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